Rotary turnhead



J1me 1966 V e. w. ARMSTRONG ETAL 3,255,857

ROTARY TURNHEAD Filed March 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l I 85 INVENTORS 3 90f 3 GEORGE W.ARMSTRONG&

I 32 4j BY GERALD W.SUTTON ATTORNEYS June 1966 cs. w. ARMSTRONG ET AL3,255,857

ROTARY TURNHEAD Filed March 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-3 63 INVENTORSGEORGE W. ARMSTRONG 8 Y GERALD W. SUTTON su ur W ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 3,255,857 ROTARY TURNHEAD George Wendell Armstrong, 0. B.Armstrong & Son,

284 Dayton Drive, Fairhorn, Ohio, and Gerald W. Sutton, 308 Edgervood,Sidney, Ohio Filed Mar. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 350,225 8 Claims. (Cl.193--23) This invention pertains to rotary turnheads and moreparticularly to an improved rotary turnhead operating and controlmechanism.

Rotary turnheads are devices which convey grain or other storedparticulate matter from a common or central conduit and direct thismaterial into any one of a plurality of different conduits or paths.Thus, a rotary turnhead may be used in a grain elevator for directinggrain into any one of a plurality of bins.

By the nature of the use to which these devices are employed, the rotaryturnheads are generally inaccessible for inspection during operation.However, it is necessary for the operator to assure that the rotaryturnhead has properly operated to select the desired bin prior toopening of the flow control valve. Due to experience with erraticoperation, it has frequently become the practice of the operator to makea visual inspection of the head prior to opening the valve, and thisoften involves climbing to inspect the valve.

A further disadvantage of many rotary turnheads now in use is that theyutilize electric motors and associated wiring for positioning theinternal selector conduit. Underwriters requirements in mostinstallations are such as to require completely explosion proofelectrical equipment, thereby substantially increasing the initial costof the installation.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a rotary turnheadwhich is positioned by compressed air.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a rotary turnheadwhich provides a positive indication of the position of the head.

Another object of this invention is the provision, in a rotary turnhead,of a pneumatic positioning motor which is positive in operation toselect fixed incremental positions corresponding to the individualselectable outlets.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a rotaryturnhead including a pneumatic control system which is positive inoperation and which indicates at all times the position of the head.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a rotaryturnhead and control system which provides a remote display of theposition of the head, and which eliminates hazardous electricalcomponents and connections.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description, the accompanying drawings and theappended claims.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotary turnheadconstructed according to the invention, with the remote control panelbeing shown in elevation;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the rotary turnhead of FIG. 1;

FIG-3 is a transverse section through the drive unit 'taken generallyalong the line 33 of FIG. 2, and showing the details of the pneumaticdrive, with a portion of the air motor being broken away;

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary portion of the drive mecha nism correspondingto FIG. 3, with the parts being shown in the moved position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section taken along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 2, showing the arrangement of the indicator valves on the valvepanel and the operator for the valve;

Patented June 14, 1966 FIG. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of thepneumatic control and indicator system of this; invention; and

FIG. 6 is a transverse section through one of the threeway normallyclosed control valves.

Referring to the figures of the drawings which illustrate a preferredembodiment of the invention, a rotary turnhead is shown in FIG. 1 ashaving a sheet metal housing 10. The housing 10 is formed with an inletopening 11 at the top thereof to receive grain. or other flowableparticulate matter from a conduit and for distribution of the mater intoany one of a plurality of circumferentially arranged, selectable outlets12. The turnhead shown has eight outlets 12 at 45. More or less outletsmay be provided at diiferent angles, such as at 60", without departingfrom the scope of this invention. The outlets 12 are each formed with aspout portion 14 extending generally outwardly and downwardly therefromproviding means for the connection of a suitable conduit thereto.

Reference may be had to FIG. 2 in which the turnhead is shown asincluding a duct or conduit 20. The conduit is contained wholly withinthe housing 16 and is formed with a vertically aligned inlet end 21positioned in continuous communication with the housing inlet 11, anintermediate 45 bend 20a, and a downwardly and outwardly directed outletend 23 positionable in align ment with one of the outlets 12. Theconduit 20 is rotatably mounted on a support shaft 25 on a support plate26 and is removably secured by a pair of straps 26a and b. The shaft 25is supported for rotation on a suitable bearing 27 which is received inthe bottom or floor 28 of the housing Ill. As shown in FIG. 2, theoutlet end 23 is positioned immediately opposite a housing outlet 12afor the discharge of particulate matter into the associated spout '14.By suitably positioning the conduit 20, any one of the outlets 12 may beselected.

Dependently supported from the housing on straps 29 is a containerforming an enclosed driver unit 30. The shaft 25 extends downwardlythrough the bottom 28 and into driven engagement with an axially alignedand c0- operating shaft 32 which is received between upper and lowerbearings 33 and 34 respectively on the top and lower bottom of thecontainer 30, and which extends through the upper bearing 33 and intodriving engagement with the shaft 25. The purpose of the control unit isto index and position the conduit 20 accurately and free of ambiguityinto any one of the discharge stations defined by the outlets 12.

One of the important features of this invention is the provision ofdrive means for the turnhead which is positive in operation. This drivemeans includes a ratchet plate which is connected in driven relation tothe shaft 32, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 3a. The ratchet plate 40 isformed with a plurality of teeth 42, and these teeth correspond both innumber and in relative angular position to the number and angularpositions of the outlets 12 in the housing 10. In the example shown,there are eight teeth 42 equally spaced about the periphery of theratchet plate 40.

Pneumatic motor means for advancing the turnhead sequentially throughthe selectable positions corresponding to the outlets 12 includes an airmotor 45 which is pivotally mounted at 46 on one side wall 47 of theunit 30. The air motor 45 is preferably of the rolling diaphragm typefree of relatively sliding components. The motor 45 is also providedwith an internal return spring 48, although an external return spring ordouble-acting motor may be used.

The air actuator 45 includes an operator rod indicated generally at 50for reciprocal movement adjacent the ratchet plate 40. The operator rod50 is suitably connected to, and forms an extension of, the motorplunger 51 and is formed throughout a major portion of its length by apair of spaced apart straps 52 and 53 joined together at the end 54. Aspool-shaped roller 55 is carried between the straps 52 and 53 andengages the teeth of the ratchet plate 40. The rod 50 is held invertical alignment on the plate 40 by a pair of spaced ends of theroller 55 which receive the peripheral edge of the ratchet plate 40therebetween.

Index means for the ratchet plate 40 includes a bracket 60 upon which ismounted a leaf spring 62. The spring 62 is held by the bracket 60 inengagement with the teeth 42 and permits rotation of the ratchet plate40 in one direction only. The terminal end of the leaf spring 62cooperates with the abrupt rise of the teeth 42 to define the indexedpositions of the conduit within the housing 10. A clamp 63 holds thespring 62 in predetermined adjusted position with respect to the plateand provides the means for making fine adjustments in the indexingposition.

The bracket 60 also provides a support for a tension spring 65, which isheld at one end by a threaded eye bolt 66 on the bracket 60, and whichis connected at its opposite end by a further eye bolt 67 to theextended end 54 of the operator rod 50. The spring 65 provides the meansfor maintaining the roller 55 in engagement with one of the teeth 42during a forward stroke. In the event that, for some reason, a forwardstroke of the air motor is not completed, the spring 65 also assists inassuring that the plate 40 is returned to its original position.

The relationship between the spring 65 and the rod can perhaps best beseen by reference to FIG. 3a in which the rod 50 is shown as having beenmoved to its full extended position. When the air pressure is nowreleased in the motor 45, the retraction Spring 48 begins to retract therod 50 to its initial or reset position. This initial movement is aidedand assisted by the spring 65. Also, this spring initially retains theroller tightly seated within one of the teeth 42 until the ratchet plate40 is firmly indexed at the end of the leaf spring 62, at which time theroller 55 proceeds up the inclined slope of the tooth and into itsretracted position, in engagement with the next adjacent tooth. In theevent that a full stroke has not been completed, such as by prematuretermination of the air supply to the motor 45, the spring 65, to getherwith the spring 48 assures the return of the ratchet plate 40 to itspreviously indexed position.

The invention provides a positive pneumatic indicator system forindicating to the operator at all times the indexed position of theconduit 20. The apparatus also includes a remote control station orpanel indicated generally at 70 in FIG. 1, in which the individualindicators are arranged.

The air suply connection to the air actuator 45 will be described first.All that is required is a suitable source of compressed air, which mayprovide air in the range of 40 p.s.i. for instance. This air is broughtinto. the control panel 70 at an inlet fitting 72, shown in FIG. 5, andis applied to a push button air control valve 73. The valve '73 ispreferably a normally closed three-way valve which, in the closedposition, blocks the passage of air therethrough from the inlet 72 andwhich provides an air vent for the motor 45. When the valve 73 isoperated or opened, such as by the depression of ,the push button 76(FIG. 1), air is applied directly from the inlet 72 to the diaphragm ofthe air actuator 45 through an air supply line 75 leading between thecontrol panel 70 and the drive unit 30. When the button 76 is released,the air supply is terminated and the motor 45 is vented through thevalve 73 to permit the return of the rod 50 by the spring 48. 7

Remote indicating means in the panel 70 consists of a plurality of airpressure indicators 80, there being one indicator 80 for each of theselectable outlets 12. The indicators 80 may be of any suitable type,such as a pressure-operated light or a small gage, as shown. Gagesrather than lamps are preferably employed in order to eliminate theemployment of electrical components. The indicators provide a continuousindication of the position of the conduit 20 and therefore indicate theselected outlet 12.

For each of the indicators 80 there is provided a separate valve 85. Thevalves are positioned within the unit 30 on a valve supporting plate 86and are arranged annularly about this plate. The spacing and number ofthe valves 85 correspond generally to the spacing and number of theoutlets 12 in the rotary turnhead.

A valve operator movable with the turnhead spout and engageable with oneof the valves 85 at each of the selectable positions includes an arm 88which is clamped to the shaft 32 and which supports a roller 90 on theextended end thereof. The roller 90 is positioned to engage the plungerof one of the valves to move this valve into an operated positioncorresponding to the position of the conduit 20.

A typical valve which may be used for the valves 85, and which may alsobe used for the valve 73, is shown in section in FIG. 6. This is athree-way valve which has a valve body formed with a first threaded port102 opening at the top of the valve, and a second tapped port 103opening at the side of the valve. The valve body 100 contains areciprocatively mounted spool 105 which is of reduced sectionintermediate its ends, and which carries a pair of spaced O-rings 108and 109 adjacent the ends thereof for cooperating with the longitudinalbore 110 formed through the valve. The O-rings 108 and 109 areengageable respectively with the bore 110 at the opposite ends of thevalve. In the closed position of the valve, as shown in full lines inFIG. 6, the O-ring 109 seals and blocks the air at the inlet or firstport 102. At the same time, the O-ring 108 is positioned just outwardlyof the bore 110 and provides a bleed passageway 111 for the second port103.- In this manner, the individual indicators 80 are bled toatmospheric pressure.

When the enlarged end 112 of the spool 105 is moved by the roller 90 tothe position shown in dotted lines, the O-ring 108 forms a seal to blockthe bleed passageway 111 and, at the same time, the O-ring 109 iscarried by the spool 105 outwardly of the bore and thereby establishescommunication between the ports 102 and 103. In this position, airpressure is applied directly to the associated indicators 80. However,just as soon as a roller 90 leaves the valve, the air pressure withinthe valve bore 110 operating on the ring 108 causes the spool 105 toshift to the closed position. Therefore, the valve is self-closing withair pressure applied in the inlet port 102. When this valve is used forthe motor control valve 73, it is preferably of larger dimensions thanthe valve required for the operation of the indicators 80.

The air supply to the valves 85 is applied through a regulator in thepanel 70. The air pressure to the valves 85 may thus be regulatedconveniently at a value lower than that employed in the air motor 45. Aconduit 122 applies regulated air pressure to the valve inlet portsthrough a manifold tubing 123 connecting the inlet ports 102 in common.Each of the valve outlet ports is in turn, connected to one of theindicators 80 in the control head 70qthrough means forming individuallines such as the tubes 125. Low pressure tubing may con-. veniently beused, such as small plastic tubing which may be cut and trimmed tolength by a pocket knife thereby facilitating ease of installation. Inany given position of the conduit no air pressure is being consumed bythe system either to the motor 45 or to any of the indicators 80. One ofthe indicators 80 will indicate a constant pressure as shown at 8011 inFIG. 1, while the remaining indicators will be vented to atmospherethrough the bleed opening 111 formed at the O-ring 108.

When the turnhead is used over a period of time with certain kinds ofparticulate material, a considerable amount of wear may occur at thebend 20a, and it may become necessary to replace the spout or conduit20. This is particularly true in the handling of certain grains such assoy beans, which are usually abrasive. To this end, the exterior of thehousing is provided With a removable hatch 130 through which access maybe had for the removal of the straps 26a and b and the withdrawal of theconduit 20, as shown by the broken lines of FIG. 2. The worn conduit maythen be suitably replaced with a new conduit, the straps replaced, andthe hatch closed.

In the operation of this invention, when it is desired to position therotary turnhead, the operator depresses the push button 76 whileobserving the indicators 80. As soon as the next adjacent indicator hasmoved, signalling that the conduit 26) has assumed its next adjacentposition, the push button 76 may be released. If a further position isimmediately required, such as in turning the head through severalpositions, the button 76 may be shortly thereafter depressed. Thepositioning operation is both positive in moving the conduit 20 intofixedly indexed positions, and in providing an indication of suchposition.

In the event that the button 76 was only momentarily depressed or wasnot held for a sulficient time to permit the full stroke of the rod 59,the ratchet plate 40 will be returned to its initial position, asdescribed above, and the indicators 80 will provide an indication ofthis fact by the reengagement of the roller 90 with the appropriatecontrol valve 85.

It will therefore be seen that this invention provides a rotary turnheadwhich is positive in operation. It provides automatic return to itsinitial position and positive indexing to advanced selected positions,thereby eliminating the possibility of ambiguity. All hazardouselectrical connections are avoided, ideally suiting the valve for use inexplosive atmospheres.

While the form of apparatus herein described consitutes a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein Without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rotary turnhead having selectable positions, the improvementcomprising a drive shaft, a ratchet connected in driving relation tosaid shaft, said ratchet having a plurality of index positionscorresponding in number and in angular spacing to the number and angularspacing of said selectable positions of said turnhead, a fluid pressureoperated actuator having a rod member positioned for reciprocal movementadjacent said ratchet and having means engageable with said ratchet tomove said ratchet through one increment of movement corresponding to themovement necessary to position said turnhead to the next selectableposition thereof With each actuation thereof, and remote means connectedto apply fluid pressure to said actuator to advance said turnheadincrementally through each of its selectable positions.

2. In a rotary turnhead having selectable positions, the improvementcomprising a drive shaft, a ratchet connected in driving relation tosaid shaft, said ratchet having a plurality of teeth corresponding innumber and in angular relation to the selectable positions of saidturnhead, a fluid pressure operated actuator having a rod positioned forreciprocal movement adjacent said ratchet and carrying a roller seriallyengagable with said ratchet teeth to move said ratchet through oneincrement of movement, corresponding to the movement necessary toposition said turnhead to the next selectable position thereof, witheach extension and retraction of said rod, and remote control meansconnected to apply fiuid pressure to said actuator to advance saidturnhead serially through each of its selectable positions.

3. A fluid pressure operated rotary turnhead comprising, a housinghaving means defining an inlet and a plurality of circumferentiallyarranged selectable outlets, a conduit rotatably received in saidhousing and having an inlet end arranged in continuous communicationwith said housing inlet and having an outlet end selectably positionableadjacent any one of said housing outlets to discharge materialtherethrough from said housing inlet, drive means including a ratchetWheel connected for movement with said conduit and having formed thereina plurality of notches corresponding in number and in angulardistribution to the number and distribution of said selectable outlets,a fluid pressure operated motor having a piston rod, and means on saidrod engageable With said ratchet wheel and effective upon theapplication of fluid pressure to said motor to move said wheel by anamount sufiicient to move said conduit to the next adjacent housingoutlet.

4. An air operated rotary turnhead comprising: a housing having meansdefining an inlet and a plurality of cir-' cumferentially arrangedselectable outlets, a conduit rotatably received in said housing andhaving an inlet end arranged in continuous communication with saidhousing inlet and having an outlet end selectably positionable adjacentany one of said housing outlets to discharge material from said housinginlet therethrough, drive means including a ratchet wheel connected formovement with said conduit and having formed therein a plurality ofnotches corresponding in number and in angular distribution to thenumber and distribution of said selectable outlets, a source of airunder pressure, a piston air motor having a piston rod, means on saidrod engageable With said ratchet wheel and effective upon theapplication of air pressure to said piston motor from said source tomove said wheel by an amount sufiicient to move said conduit to the nextadjacenthousing outlet, pneumatically operable indicator means having aconnection to said source including a separate position responsive meansfor each said selectable outlet, sensing the coincidence of said conduitwith said selectable outlet, and a separate remote indicator connectedto each of said position responsive means for indicating to an operatorthe position of said conduit.

5. A rotary turnhead comprising: a casing having means forming an inletand a plurality of selectable outlets, a selector conduit rotatablyreceived in said casing and having one end aligned to receive materialfrom said inlet and another end positionable selectively by rotation todirect material from said inlet to one of said outlets, a ratchet platehaving formed thereon a plurality of selectable engageable teethcorresponding in number and in angular distribution to said selectableoutlets, means mounting said plate in driving relation with saidconduit, an air motor for said conduit having a piston rod arranged toengage said ratchet at single ones of said teeth to advance saidselector conduit one position corresponding to the angular spacing ofsaid outlets for each operation of said motor, remote air pressureoperated indicators one for each of said selectable outlets, andseparate valve means for each of said indicators connected to apply airpressure thereto and operable in response to the position of saidconduit for providing a remote indication thereof.

6. A rotary turnhead comprising: a casing having means forming an inletand a plurality of selectable outlets, a selector conduit rotatablyreceived in said casing and having one end aligned to receive materialfrom said inlet and another end positionable selectively by rotation todirect material from said inlet to one of said outlets, a ratchet platehaving formed thereon a plurality of selectable detent positionscorresponding in number and in angular distribution to said selectableoutlets, means mounting said plate for rotation with said,conduit, anair motor for said conduit having a piston rod arranged serially toengage said ratchet at said detent positions to advance said selectorconduit one position corresponding to cator and in a second position toprovide a pressure bleed for such indicator.

7. In a rotary turnhead including an inlet and a plurality of selectableoutlets which are angularly spaced about the inlet, the improvementcomprising: a drive shaft for selecting said outlets by rotationthereof, a ratchet plate connected in driving relation to said shaft,said plate having formed thereon a plurality of teeth each characterizedby an abrupt rise on one side and a sloping inclined surface on theother side, said ratchet teeth corresponding in number and relativeangular position to the number and angular positions of the rotaryturnhead outlets, a motor for advancing said turnhead sequentiallythrough said selectable positions including a rod member positioned forextending and retracting movement adjacent said ratchet plate, a returnspring for said rod member, follower means on said rod member engageablewith said ratchet teeth at said abrupt rise to move said plate throughone increment of movement corresponding generally to the annular spacingof said teeth with each full extension stroke and retraction of said rodmember, and a second spring urging said follower means into env gagementwith said teeth with sufficient force together prising: a separatethree-way air valve for each of said positions, each of said valveshaving first and second ports and being movable between a first positionblocking the flow of air at said first port while providing a pressurebleed at said second port, and a second position connecting said firstport to said second port, a valve operator movable with saidturnheadspout and engageable with one of said valves at each of said selectablepositions to move said valve from said first position to said second po-10 sition, a remote indicating head including a separate air pressureoperated indicator for each of said valves, means connecting each ofsaid valve second ports to the associated said indicator, and meansapplying air pressure to each of said valve first ports providing aninstantaneous indication of the position of said turnhead correspondingReferences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,459,463 6/ 1923Bobeldyk 19323 1,565,336 12/1925 Seufert 74-128 2,531,527 11/1950Patterson 193-23 2,732,052 1/1955 Campbell et al 193 23 2,821,172 1/1958Randall 92-19 X 2,839,171 6/1958 Ponto 19323 2,932,282 4/1960 McKinleyet al 9218 X FOREIGN PATENTS 803,166 7/ 1949 Germany.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Examiner.

A. L. LEVINE, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A ROTARY TURNHEAD HAVING SELECTABLE POSITIONS, THE IMPROVEMENTCOMPRISING A DRIVE SHAFT, A RATCHET CONNECTED IN DRIVING RELATION TOSAID SHAFT, SAID RATCHET HAVING A PLURALITY OF INDEX POSITIONSCORRESPONDING IN NUMBER AND IN ANGULAR SPACING TO THE NUMBER AND ANGULARSPACING OF SAID SELECTABLE POSITIONS OF SAID TURNHEAD, A FIRST PRESSUREOPERATED ACTUATOR HAVING A ROD MEMBER POSITIONED FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENTADJACENT SAID RATCHET AND HAVING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID RATCHET TOMOVE SAID RATCHET THROUGH ONE INCREMENT OF MOVEMENT CORRESPONDING TO THEMOVEMENT NECESSARY TO POSITION SAID TURNHEAD TO THE NEXT SELECTABLEPOSITION THEREOF WITH EACH ACTUATION THEREOF, AND REMOTE MEANS CONNECTEDTO APPLY FLUID PRESSURE TO SAID ACTUATOR TO ADVANCE SAID TURNHEADINCREMENTALLY THORUGH EACH OF ITS SELECTABLE POSITIONS.